Atomizer



W. BREWER ay 6, m7.

ATOMIZER Filed March 21, 1944 F/GZ,

F/GB.

Inventor .BREWER WALL /AM Patented May 6, 1 947 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ATOLIIZER' a British company Application March 21, 1944, SerialNo. 521,420

' In Great Britain January 20, 1944 1 Claim. 1

The present inventionrelates to means for producing a spray of atomisedliquid.

Various types of apparatus are known for P ducing a spray of atomisedliquid to effect disinfection, disinfestation, and vermin destruction,or for odorising or deodorising purposes. Such an- I ratus are as a rulesomewhat cumbersome, having been fitted with valves or other movingparts requiring periodic overhaul or replacement. Manually operablespraying apparatus or syringes used hitherto have suffered from thefurther disadvantage that they are diiilcult to operate in confinedspaces and in many cases are of little use unless the operator canapproach close to the area tobe sprayed. I

An object of this invention is the provision of a light, compact devicefor producing an atomised spray from a body of liquid under pressure forthe purpose of disinfection, disinfestation, vermin destruction, or forodorising or deodorising purposes.

Another object is to provide such a device which is free frommechanically movable parts, is foolproof in operation, and willwithstand rough han- A further object is to provide such a device whichhas a small salvage value so that the device can be thrown away afteruse.

According to this invention means for producing a spray of atomisedliquid comprise in combination a vessel adapted to contain under ressurethe liquid to be atomised, the vessel having a filling opening and aclosure member in fluid-tight connection with the opening, a fluiddelivery tube extending inwardly from the closure member and terminatingclose to the bottom of the container. and a frangible projection to theclosure member, the frangible projection having a hollow partcommunicating with the delivery tube. the arrangement being such thatflexure of the frangible projection causes fracture at the hollow partto release the liquid from the container in the form of an atomisedspray.

The fluid delivery tube preferably extends at the delivery end throughthe closure member into said frangible projection to terminate close tothe intended line of fracture and the bore of the delivery tube may haveimparted to it, as by counterborlng, an outwardly diverging conical formfor ensuring the production of a spray having a broad angle ofdispersal.

The degree of atomisation varies considerably in relation to theviscosity of the liquid. A relatively wide bored delivery tube suitablefor the production of a finely atomised spray from a liquid having highviscosity is likely to result in ejection of a liquid of low viscosityin the form of a relatively highly concentrated jet. To reduceproduction costs it is of advantage to use standard components, and inaccordance with another feature of this invention a, delivery tubehaving a wide bore suitable for the production of a finely atomisedspray from a liquid of high viscosity is used, and when the liquidcharge has a lower vis cosity the free cross sectional area of thedelivery tube is reduced by the insertion of a baflle rod.

A fluid-tight connection between the filling opening and the closuremember may be established by clamping the closure member between anabutment provided Within the filling opening and a, sealing member ofyielding material held under compression against the closure member byconstricting the lip of the filling opening,

For ejecting the liquid from the vessel upon fracture of the hollow partof the frangible projection, a gaseous propellant such as carbon dioxideis introduced into thevessel after it has been partially filled with theliquid to be atomised.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a spraying device in central longitudinal section,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on the same section as Fig. l but on anenlarged scale,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in central longitudinal section of analternative embodiment, and

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 showing another embodiment.

The device comprises a vessel I for the liquid to be sprayed, the vesselbeing constituted by a solid drawn steel bulb or capsule having a neck 2defining a filling opening. The wall of the neck 2 is reduced inthickness by removal of metal from the interior surface as shown so asto form a thinwalled pliable lip 3 and an internal abutment 4 on whichis seated a closure member 5 which, after the vessel has been chargedwith the liquid and a gaseous propellant, is firmly clamped against theabutment 4 by bending the pliable lip 3 inwardly, a sealing member 6 ofyielding material, such as rubber, being interposed between the closuremember 5 and the inturned lip 3 to form a fluidtight joint. The closuremember 5 has a central bore 1 extending outwardly from its inner face toterminate in an outwardly extending projection 8. The inner end of thebore 1 is enlarged to accommodate the upper end of a delivery tube 9which reaches nearly to the bottom of the vessel I.

Efllcient atomisation is largely dependent upon a proper correlationbetween the free cross-sectional area of the delivery tube and theviscosity of the liquid to be atomised: the higher the viscosity, thewider the bore. In order that standard components may be used, adelivery tube having a relatively wide bore suitable for the dischargeof high viscosity liquids is mounted in the container and the freecross-sectional area is adjusted to suit liquids of lower viscosity byinserting a baiiie rod II. This may be made from a length of wire havingthe appropriate gauge, the wire being slightly curved or bentintermediate its ends so as frictionally to engage the wall of thedelivery tube 9. By this means, the wire can readily be held in positionwithin the delivery tube and the lower end of the wire may be looped asshown to prevent the wire being ejected with the discharged liquid.

After the requisite quantity of liquid has been placed in the vessel i apropellant in the form of a measured quantity of CO: under a pressure ofabout 800 lbs. per square inch is charged on to the top of the liquid:the vessel l is then sealed by turning over the lip 3 on to the sealingmember 6 in a press of known and suitable design,

when it is desired to liberate the liquid in the vessel as a fine spray,the projection I is flexed and, being hollow, it is thereby readilybroken, whereupon the liquid is forced out by the gaseous propellantthrough the delivery tube 9 in the form of a fine spray.

To ensure easy fiexure of the projection 8, a ferrule Ii may be attachedthereto, as by screwing, whereby the bending moment is increased.

For eflicient disinfestation generally. it has been found desirable touse a spray having a broad angle. A spray having this characteristic maybe obtained by imparting to the delivery tube at the delivery end anoutwardly diverging conical form [2. A conical angle of about 35 will inmost cases be found suitable.

Instead of using a solid drawn steel bulb or capsule, the vessel I maybe formed from a length of tubing which at each end is reduced indiameter to form a neck having a thin-walled pliable lip. At the upperend the tube is sealed with a closure member having a central bore and afrangible projection as shown in Fig. 1, whilst at the other end theopening s sealed as shown in Fig. 3 to which reference will now bemade.

The terminal portion ll of the vessel i, which is of reduced diameter,is provided with a thinwalled pliable lip i4 and an internal shoulder I5by removal of metal from the interior surface. Within the recess thusformed is mounted a cap I8 abutting against the shoulder II againstwhich it is firmly clamped by bending the pliable lip i4 inwardly, asealing member I! of yielding material, such as rubber, being interposedbetween the cap I and the inturned lip H to form a fluid-tight joint. 4

An alternative method of closing the lower end of the tube is shown inFig. 4, where a plug I! having an internal recess ii is secured, as 55by flash butt welding, to the end of the reduced terminal portion it ofthe tube which constitutes the vessel i.

Both these methods of closing the lower end advantage that a ll itselfin Fig. 3 and the provided into which the delivery 9 can enter,therethat the maximum amount of liquid by the gaseous propellant.

Devices for Producing a spray of atomised liquid constructed ashereinbefore described are suiliciently light and compact to enable aperson to carry several in a pocket, pouch or handbag. For example, whentroops are away from their base camp, each may be provided with severalsuch devices for use in bell tents, foxholes, native huts and so fourth:the usual apparatus for spraying insecticides would under suchconditions prove too cumbersome and expensive.

By mounting the device upon one end of an elongated support, the spraymay be directed against otherwise inaccessible places such as theceilings or rafters of buildings, or the leaves or branches of talltrees.

I claim:

Means for producing a spray of atomized liquid comprising in combinationa container adapted to contain under pressure the liquid to be atomized,and provided with a relatively wide filling opening to permit thecontainer to be initially charged with said liquid, an abutment in saidfilling opening, a closure member adapted to be mounted in said fillingopening so as to permit the container to be charged with a gaseouspropellant and means for securing said clmure member in fluid-tightconnection with said opening after said container has been charged withthe gaseous propellant, said means comprising an inwardly-directed lipcomprising the inturned end of said filling opening whereby said closuremember is clamped in fluid-tight manner against said abutment, a fluiddelivery tube extending inwardly from said closure member andterminating close to the bottom of said container, and a frangibleprojection extending outwardly from said closure member as an integralpart thereof, and having an internal bore normally closed at its outerend and communicating with said delivery tube, said frangible projectionhaving a weakened section to enable it to be readily fiexed andfractured whereby said. delivery tube is opened to release the liquidfrom the container in the form of an atomized spray.

WILLIAM BREWER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

